Electric switch



A. H NERO ELECTRIC-SWITCH Oct. 13, 1936.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1934 im/mm mum/M INVENTOR ARVID H. NERCBY HIS ATTORNEYS Oct. 13, 1936. A. H. NERO ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan.20, 1934 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fx samr/ml INVENTOR ARVID H. BY HIS ATTORNEYSNERO Patented @ct. 13, 1936' assists ELECTRIC SWE'ECH Arvid H. Nero,West Hartford, Conn, assignor to The Arrow-Hart & Hegeman ElectricGompany, Hartford, Eonn, a corporation or Connecticut ApplicationJanuary Zil, 1934, Serial No. 707,597

a @laims. (stats-1st) This invention relates to electric switches orcircuit breakers. More particularly it relates to an electric switchhaving a movable contact which is movedwith a snap action into threediflerent 5 positions for the control of circuit containing electrictranslatingdevices, such as-electric heaters and electric stoves.

It is an object of this invention. to provide a lever actuated snapswitch for controlling heater circuits, which switch has a movablecontact capable of occupying two closed-circuit positions and anopen-circuit position.

Another object is to provide a lever operated snap switch for heatercircuits in which the con-- la nections between the fixed contactsthereof may be varied easily to suit the different requirements of useto which the switch may be put.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will occur to those skilledin the art as the invention is described in connection with theaccompanying drawings:-

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of the top half of a switch embodying myinvention.

Figure 21s a bottom view of the top half of the switch shown in Figure1.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the lower half of a switch embodying theprinciples of my invention.

Figure 4 is a broken sectional view taken longitudinally through theswitch shown in Figures 1 and 2, the section being taken along linesie-d thereof.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the switch shown in thepreceding figures, the section being taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings the switch embodies a base comprising an upperhalf it and a lower half l2 which are generally in the form of octagonalprisms. The top half it of the base has formed in its upper surface :3identical irregularly shaped curved channels it, it, ill and .26, thesechannels connecting countersunk bores 22 and 2d, '25 and 2d, 86 and' tfit l and 85 respectively, the bores 22, 2t; 3t and 36 being located atone end of the base while the bores 2t, 28, 32 and 35 are located'at theother end of the base Each bore penetrates the base from one side to theother. The bores '39 and it are positioned symmetrically, at one side ofthe center line of the base with respect to the bores 22 and Ztwhich areat the other side. Similarly the bores 32 and 85 are positionedsymmetrically with respect to the bores 2'6 and 28. In each of the boresthere is a mounting screw which takes into a square nut at the otherside of the upper half of the base underneath which nut is seated afixed contact member which is of L shape. For illustration of thisconstruction reference may be had to the mounting screw 23 which iscontained in the bore 22 and takes into nut 32 to hold the contact 54 inposition.

That portion of the contact 54 which is adapted to be engaged by amovable contact (hereinafter dcs-ribecl) may be seen at 53s. It is inalignment with similar contact engaging surfaces 52s, 56s and 58s, allof these contact surfaces being on one side of the center line of theswitch base but the surfaces 52s and 56s are at the-opposite end of thebase from the surfaces 56s and 588. Similarly on the other side of thecenter line of the base are aligned contact surfaces Ms, 36s, 48s and58s. Preferably the stationary contacts and nuts are seated withinrectangular recesses (see for example the recess 43 for the contact 5%).

It will now be apparent that the contact 56 may be connected with thecontact #33 by a bus bar 59 which may be seated in the channel 20 andsecured therein by the same screws 35 and 3? which mount the switchcontacts in their recesses in the opposite face of the base. Similarlycontacts 52 and 58 are connected by a bus bar 53 and contacts 54 and 58are connected by a bus bar 55. In the switch shown no bus bar is placedin the channel 58 and therefore the contacts M and 50 are not connectedtogether. The channels l4, l6, l8 and 28, being identical, it ispossible to use the bus bars 619, 53, 55, interchangeably or to omit oradd one as dictated by the requirements of the difierent circuits inwhich the switch is to be used.

In order to bridge the contacts 54 and it and at the same time bridgecontacts 52 and 54, bridging members 60 and 62 are mounted upon the endof a switch member $4 which may be movable with a snap action by a handlever 65 by means of any suitable snap switch mechan, n. for examplethat shown in the patent to Monroe Guett 1,878,843 patented September20, 1932.

The bridging members 60 and 62 are mounted upon the end of the switchingmember 64 by means of pins 68 passing transversely through the endportion of the switching member 84 and having insulating collars l0 andI2 thereon on opposite sides of the switching member. The movablecontacts and 82 are secured against the outer ends of the insulatingcollars by the bending over the ends of the transverse pins 88.

an insulating washer 14 being provided to insu-' late the pins 88 fromthe'contacts. Thus the contacts are mutually insulated from one anotherand from the switching member 64.

Referring to Figures 2 and 4 it will be noted that each movable contactor bridging member is made of two laminations of thin sheet metal whichare stamped into approximately H shape. The ends of the laminations arebent outwardly to facilitate the engagement thereof with the contactsurfaces of the fixed contacts, according to well known switch practice.Preferably the contact arms of the movable contact are arcuate, theinner ones being shorter than the outer ones in order that when theyengage with the fixed' contacts, the inner and outer arms'will engagewith the inner and outer contacts, respectively. at the same instant.

It will now be observed that when the switch is in position shown inFigure 4 stationary contacts 48 and 50 will be bridged by the movablecontact 60 and contacts 58 and 58 willbe bridged by the movable contact62. When the switch is in the positions shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5, nostationary contact will be engaged by a movable contact. When the switchis in the opposite extreme position from that shown in Figure 4 thestationary contacts I and will be bridged by the movable contact 60 andthe stationary contacts 52 and 54 will be bridged by the movable contact62.

It is desirable to have the stationary and movable contacts completelyenclosed in order that the moisture and dirt may be prevented fromcollectingupon them. Therefore I have provided a lower-half I! for theswitch casing. This portion of the casing has a central arcuate recess80 in its upper or inner face, to permit free movement of the movablecontact members.

In order that feed wires may be connected with the stationary contactswire terminals are provided upon the bottom surfaces of the lower halfof the switch' casing, these terminals being connected with thestationary contacts by long screws or bolts passing through the lowerhalf I2 of the casing and taking into the square nuts (see for examplenut ll which with its'screw 40 holds in place the fixedcontact M). Thescrew 82 which takes into nut 4 l and the similar screws which take intothe other contacts, not only serve to connect the wire terminals withthe fixed contacts but also serve to hold the upper and lower I parts ofthe base together.

The wire terminals may consist of a washer 8| with a tab or extension88' which is engaged by the long screws for: example, the long screw 82.The binding screws 34 may be threaded into the washers in order that thefeed wire may be turned around and secured thereto according to commonpractice.

Mam

In case it is desired to mount the switch directly upon the bus-bars ofan electric range, angled extensions or conductors 86, as, 90 may beprovided and may be secured to the washers by screws 81, 09, 9|respectively taking the place of the binding screws ll.

This switch is capable of and is particularly adapted to use in thecircuit shown in my copending application filed coincidentally herewith,entitled "Heater circuit, Serial Number 707,598.

A face plate or cover for the switch is provided as at ll. This maybe ofany convenient design.

. base parts of insulating material, fixed and movable switch contactsand mechanism for moving the movable contacts with a snap action on oneof said base parts, internally threaded members and screws engagedtherewith for holding said fixed contacts to said one base part, wireterminals and bolts on the other base part, said bolts engaging withsaid threaded members and wire terminals and holding said base partstogether.

2. An electric switch comprising cooperating base parts of insulatingmaterial, fixed and movable switch contacts and mechanism for moving themovable contact with a snap motion on one' of said base parts, wireterminals on the other of said base parts, and means securing saidterminals to their base part and securing said base parts immovablytogether and electrically conmeeting said terminals to said contacts.

3. An electric switch comprising cooperating base parts of insulatingmaterial. fixed and movable switch contacts and mechanism for moving themovable contact with a snap motion on one of said base parts, wireterminals on the back face oftheother of said parts, and means securingsaid terminals against said back face and securing said base partsimmovably together and electrically connecting said terminals to saidcontacts.

4. Anelectric switch comprising cooperating base parts of insulatingmaterial, groups of switch contacts'at opposite ends of one of said baseparts, a movable switch member adapted to engage with one orthe other orneither of said groups of stationary contacts at will, anoscillatoryoperating lever extending from the face of said baseoppositeto that upon which the switch contacts are. and mechanism formoving said movable contact with a snap into or from any one of itsthree positions, and rigid interchange-.

able conductors seated in unconnectedchannels in one face of said baseand connecting certain of said fixed contacts, wire terminals on theother of said base parts. and-conducting means securing said base partstogether and connecting said wire terminals to said switch contacts.

ARVID mac.

